Some say that pizza goes with wine. Some say beer. I’m firmly on both sides of this argument. Want to run a taste test? Let’s head for the South End and check out Union 15, the appealing pizzeria that opened last summer in Colonial Gardens.
Colonial Gardens, the historic beer garden on the fringe of Iroquois Park, nearly fell to the wrecker’s ball after it closed in 2003. But it’s bouncing back, clean and bright and maybe better than ever. Union 15 joins El Taco Luchador, the first eatery in the renovated facility.
Biscuit Belly is reportedly coming this summer, and the remaining space – behind the original white pillars of the old Colonial Gardens structure – has “Carl’s Bar” written on its plywood-clad windows, perhaps an homage to Carl Frederick Senning, the German immigrant who developed the property as beer garden and petting zoo in 1902.
The 21st century Colonial Gardens was developed by Underhill Associates, the same development company that built the popular Westport Village. With its four trim white buildings surrounding an open plaza, Colonial Gardens appears set to become a popular dining, drinking and music venue in coming months. You’ll want to go there. Why wait? You can catch a pizza and more, and something good to wash it down, at Union 15 right now.
Like the other restaurant buildings that frame the Colonial Gardens plaza, Union 15 is a large, open space with high ceilings and large floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the common area. Dozens of lights pop like stars in the open ceiling high above. Bluish gray walls are painted with offbeat slogans such as “Power in the Union,” a salute to the restaurant’s name, based on Kentucky’s entry as 15th state in the union.
A large bar stretches across the back of the room, and its 50 draft beer taps need most of that space. Craft beers are $7 to $9 for a pint; yes, you can have an industrial brew for $4, if you really want to. About 20 canned beers, mostly in 16-ounce tallboys, are $4 to $7. A short wine list is $5 or $6 for a glass. There’s also a selection of cocktails, well drinks, and bourbon flights.
The food is simple, as you’d expect from a pizza and beer joint. But it’s consistently well crafted, with creative touches that delight. Pizzas and hoagie sandwiches dominate the menu, with more than a dozen specialty pies plus an endless variety of build-your-own choices.
Pizzas come on hand-tossed crusts in 10- or 14-inch sizes, and range in price from $12 (for small veggie, pineapple, or white pizzas) to $17 (for most of the large pies). Build-your-own choices start at $10 or $14 small or large, plus $1 to $2.60 per topping.
Seven hoagies, all $11 or $12, include Italian traditions like the meatball grinder or stuffed Italian, and such non-traditions as a cheesesteak or Cuban sandwich.
Seven starters and three salads round out the menu. Most are under $10, unless you want to pig out on a two-pound batch of wings for $16.
A tossed caesar salad ($4 for small, $6 for large) was excellent. Square-cut romaine was pale but crisp and chilled. Tangy caesar dressing was added judiciously, not over-served. Large slices of Parmesan were scattered throughout,; and crisp, herbal baguette croutons were plentiful.
The fried brussels sprouts ($8) may reset your attitude toward this much-maligned vegetable. Crisp, charred sliced sprouts were buried under wide strips of mild Parmesan and piquant chopped pickled pimentos, drizzled with spicy white chipotle cream and pale-green basil dressing.
The Southside cheesesteak ($12) came on a good, hard hoagie roll, split and toasted until the cut sides were golden, then piled high with shaved beef that had been roasted with tomato, green pepper and onion. Soft cheese resembling the traditional Cheez Whiz had been extruded in an artful ripple atop the beef. (Queso blanco is also an option.) Excellent potato chips, crunchy and thick-cut, came alongside.
A 10-inch “Don’t Have A Cow” veggie pizza ($12), pictured at the top of the page, was well-made, with an extremely thin crust with a puffy edge filled with yeast bubbles like good Italian bread. The mozzarella was melty; the tomato sauce spicy and laid on lightly, as it should be. Strips of red and green bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, red onion, and black olives were generously strewn uncooked across the finished pizza, a crisp, fresh and healthy veggie mix. I wouldn’t have minded just a little more oven time to get more char on the crust, but that’s picky. It was a good pie.
Lunch for two was $38.16, plus an $8 tip for quick, attentive service.
Union 15
Colonial Gardens
816 W. Kenwood Drive
653-7494
eatunion15.com
facebook.com/union15southend
instagram.com/eatunion15
Robin Garr’s rating: 84 points.
Noise level: We dropped by for an early Saturday lunch and found an empty, quiet room. Come back on a busy evening, and it may not be so easy to converse. (Average sound level was 71dB, the level of quiet normal conversation.)
Accessibility: The entrance on the parking lot side is not accessible, requiring three steps up. The door from the central plaza offers a level entrance, though, and the restrooms are accessible.
